Highlights IRI-2016 hmF2 was validated for stations at three different latitudes during moderate solar activity. All the hmF2 model options (BSE, AMTB, and SHU) show varying strength and weakness. BSE option could not be jettisoned; thus, the need for a robust ionosonde-derived hmF2 and M(3000)F2 database.

    Abstract The height of the peak electron density (hmF2) is crucial in the study of some ionospheric electrodynamics and for high frequency (HF) radio communication circuit planning. We validated the three hmF2 model options of the 2016 version of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) with data from three ionosonde stations, each from different latitudinal ranges. The recent options: Altadill-Magdaleno-Torta-Blanch (AMTB2013) and SHUbin (SHU-2015), seem to be better than the previous one – Bilitza-Sheikh-Eyfrig (BSE-1979), particularly at low- and mid-latitudes. Despite the identified limitations in literature, BSE-1979 seems to be better at some periods and regions, particularly at the mid-latitude and high latitude in the nighttime. The three different options exhibit varying strengths and weaknesses depending on the period of the day, the season, and latitude. The observations suggest that BSE-1979 have important roles to play in hmF2 modeling and that the approach of modeling hmF2 from observed M(3000)F2 cannot be entirely jettisoned. Hence, there is a need for a robust ionosonde-derived hmF2 and M(3000)F2 database, for improved modeling efforts.


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    Title :

    Validating IRI-2016 for quiet-time F2-region peak electron density height (hmF2) at different latitudes during moderate solar activity


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 68 , 3 ; 1366-1376


    Publication date :

    2021-02-23


    Size :

    11 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English